I received this communications a short while ago. It is with the greatest sadness that I must announce this.
Diane Phelan
Message: Dear Anthony and the WUWT moderators:
I am the daughter of Robert Phelan and I unfortunately have some bad news to pass on. My father passed away suddenly last night from what we believe to be a heart attack. I know you had a party planned on the 18th. I would hate to say it’s cancelled because knowing my father, he would want the celebration to continue, but I’m hoping we could have a conversation first.
…
I’m so sorry to have to bring this news to you. He spoke of you often and with much respect and admiration.
Bob was the nicest and most helpful individual you could ever want to meet. I had met him twice, at two Heartland conferences, and we spoke over the phone often. He was tireless and dedicated to helping us all here, he was very helpful to me, and we’ve all lost a dear friend. Many of you knew him by his signature [REP].
I can tell you this was like a kick in the stomach for me. I loved Bob like a brother. He was always quick with a laugh and easy to talk with. He was fair, and honest, and good. My last communications with him was yesterday morning, and as usual, it was a message to help me with something about WUWT, passing along an important comment that I might otherwise have missed due to the volume.
I spoke with Diane Phelan his daughter, today, and I have conveyed my deepest sympathy to her and to the family. Details on funeral or other arrangements are obviously uncertain right now, and I will pass them along on this thread as I have them. I’ll also post a photo and official obituary when I have them.
As for the WUWT East Coaster’s picnic planned at Bob’s house on the 18th, – I don’t know at this point. One day at a time.
Bob was a lecturer at Eastern Connecticut State University in Sociology, Anthropology & Social Work. He understood people well, which is what made him such a great asset as a lead moderator at WUWT. To say he will be missed here, is an understatement.
The header of WUWT goes to a black band now, to honor and mourn his passing.
###
UPDATE: A site for donations to help cover funeral costs will be made available in a day or two. I’ll announce that here when it is ready. – Anthony
UPDATE2: 8/11/12 6:30PM PST
The wake is this Wed, August 15th from 4-8p at the Cody-White Funeral Home (right off the Milford MetroNorth stop) 107 Broad St., Milford, CT 06460.
The funeral is this Thurs., August 16th at 10:30 am at St. Mary’s Church, 70 Gulf St. Milford, CT. The interment will be at St Mary’s Cemetery immediately following.
Full obituary here
The link to the memorial fund site set up is:
http://www.giveforward.com/therobertphelanmemorialfund
There’s lot of new pictures of Bob there. Please take a moment to look and consider helping.
The Phelan family asked me if I would ask your to donate to the memorial fund in lieu of flowers. I am happy to do so, especially after learning of this below.
I received this update from his daughter Diane Phelan, when I inquired where Bob was when he was stricken:
To answer your question, my father was found at his study desk, where we often found him asleep! He had very likely fallen asleep moderating the blog, or doing some related research.
…
As I probably mentioned to you, he most likely didn’t feel it and it was quick and peaceful for him, something I am grateful for and it’s what he would have wanted.
Thank you for any considerations you can offer. I have made a significant contribution myself. – Anthony
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Forum Moderators are the unsung heroes of the internet. My sincere condolences to the WUWT community and Mr Watts, and to all those who loved Mr Phelan.
Sad news indeed. I enjoyed reading his invitation to a party at his house, but alas, Vermont was a tad too far away . Now the distance seems close enough, had I the chance again. RIP Robert.
RIP, REP.
Well done with the black banner, Anthony. So few remember appropriate use of the black of mourning.
My condolences to both his family and WUWT family. RIP mate.
From time to time a really good person appears among us for a period and then leaves. My condolences on your loss to the family. He will be missed by all.
REP to your family Thank You. It is a sad day when a man dies who has contributed to the world community in such a positive way. Condolences.
Terry and Hyon
My condolences to Diane Phelan. Always sad, and more so when its sudden.
I recognized his moderation signature….and can only comment that He and his family can be proud of what he contributed to: the ‘take-down’ of the fiction of CAGW.
I’m proud to be able to just watch it in action. Contributing to it? Only in my dreams.
But Robert Phelan? He did it.
My prayer to the family from Numbers 6:24-26 from the Bible.
“May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Amen.
Three little letters and yet they carried weight with us faceless readers. Time and effort revealed a passion for knowledge and sharing – it did not go unnoticed. Thank you REP! And my condolences to his family.
I enjoyed his comments and will miss his comments even though I didn’t know him. My condolences to his family.
Jim
Condolences to everyone in his family and his friends. He will be missed here as well. His sig and his moderation were something I tried to keep from happening and only got nipped once. RIP
My condolences to the Phelan family.
Classy moderation makes a classy blog/forum. Robert did that. We all noticed and appreciated his contribution. Like Anthony and all the moderators, a soldier for truth. We honor his memory.
This is sad news. My condolences to Roberts family. I and many others will remember Robert as one of the happy few there on St. Crispins day.
I only knew him by his initials, but this moderator guarded the fort like it was his own. Fantastic. He will be missed.
What LearDog said. My condolences to his family.
RIP REP
Oh dear, I am very sad to hear this. My best wishes got to his family, especially Diane Phelan who somehow found the strength to notify his online family of this terrible news.
Rest well Mr. Phelan.
A Brilliant Light now gone from this earth. RIP REP and condolences to all his family and loved ones.
Lyrics come to mind:
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
Who abide in His shadow for life,
Say to the Lord, “My Refuge,
My Rock in Whom I trust.”
And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
And famine will bring you no fear;
Under His Wings your refuge,
His faithfulness your shield.
And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
You need not fear the terror of the night,
Nor the arrow that flies by day,
Though thousands fall about you,
Near you it shall not come.
And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
For to His angels He’s given a command,
To guard you in all of your ways,
Upon their hands they will bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
Michael Joncas
RIP Mate, your work was appreciated by this Aussie and so was the help you gave me when I first started posting comments here.
Hear hear on the use of the black banner Anthony.
A fitting tribute to a very central figure to our online community.
Requiescat in pace.
May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven
a full half hour before the devil knows you’re dead.
It is always heart-breaking to lose a family member or a close virtual or real-life friend. As a frequent lurker and occasional poster, here, like so many, I have always appreciated [REP]’s judicious and witty moderation.
To Anthony and to Robert’s family – and to his friends around the world – I offer my condolences. May the lessons that he has taught us – and his memory – be a blessing that guides us and lives on in our hearts.